A/N: I have my computer back! I am so happy. Sorry for the shortness of the last chapter. I promise to make them longer going forward. I am so excited that you like it and thank you everyone who has reviewed, favored, and followed it. Enjoy the new chapter!

PS... If you have not seen it yet, I have started another Prince of Tennis story. This is sort of a side story to Choices Made Together based on the little blurb I put in the epilogue about Sanada and Yukimura. It is their story of how they met, fell in love, and eventually got married/had a baby. Go and check it out. It is titled Choices in Life. XD

Chapter 3 – Tennis Talk

There was something inside Tezuka that told him it was a mistake to get involved with Yukimura, pretend or otherwise, but as soon as he would pick up the phone to call the other teen, the blunette's words rang in his ears, "I promise if you do, Fuji will be yours…" It was enough to give him pause and force him to put down his phone, at least until the next round of doubts wandered into his mind.

It was during one of those weak moments that he actually did dial a phone number, but it did not belong to Yukimura, "Fuji, I need to talk."

"Dating advice so early in the game Tezuka? What does that say about you?" Fuji forced out a laugh. He didn't want to think about Tezuka with Yukimura, and instead decided to make light of it all assuming that Tezuka had called the bluenette and accepted whatever offer the other man gave him. It hurt that the man he originally loved, and someone he considered one of his best friends, had chosen someone else. Yes, he was with someone too, but Tezuka had been the first one to say "no" and then left.

"Ah," the bespectacled teen was at a loss. He honestly didn't know why his hand had scrolled through the contacts on his phone and called the blue eyed tensai of Seigaku. If he was smart, he would stop the ruse now and explain everything, confess his feelings, and ask Fuji to leave Sanada and be his instead; but although he was a gifted tennis player and a bright student, in love he was an idiot. Instead he carried on with the ploy in order to gauge Fuji's reaction and to follow through with the plan Yukimura set forth, "You heard?"

The confirmation was ice water to his soul and Fuji tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He had assumed, but hearing was apparently harder than he thought it was going to be. Clearing his throat, he tried to smile through the pain like he had done so many, many times, "I didn't, but Yukimura is known for getting what he wants. He is an attractive man and very talented at tennis. It doesn't surprise me that you and he… Well, what can I do for you?" He would keep up the pretense of being friends and supporting Tezuka even if it killed him.

Thinking of something fast, Tezuka finally asked, "With Sanada there and you here, how does it work?"

"We call each other on the phone and we also meet on the weekends to play tennis. We typically alternate who travels."

"Tennis? That was all they did? Wasn't a relationship about more than tennis?" Tezuka wondered. Ok, he would be the first person that would question his own thoughts, but what about dates and time spent together just being together. Yes, whomever he was involved with would have to like tennis, and if he played, even better, but he wanted to do so much more with Fuji.

"Ne, does this mean you and Yukimura will be joining in on the traveling now?" Fuji continued.

Answering honestly, Tezuka replied, "I am not sure. We only talked about dating and getting to know each other better."

He couldn't say what it was, but Fuji had a feeling his friend was holding back something vital, "What did you need me for?" Beating down the need to ask why he came back from Germany, he waited for an answer.

"I already asked. I will leave you to your day now," Tezuka said and was about to get off of the phone when he was stopped by the voice on the other end.

"Do you want to meet and play tennis today?"

"Hai!" The word was out of Tezuka's mouth before he could stop it.

Smiling, Fuji instructed, "Meet me at the street courts on the hill in an hour and don't be late." It was wrong, he knew it was, but he couldn't help it. They were still friends and Tezuka was… it was like he was the sun that Fuji drifted towards. Tezuka might have Yukimura right now, and he may have Sanada, but together Fuji and Tezuka still had tennis and their friendship. That was enough… for now. Hanging up the phone, he jumped off his bed and started to get ready to head out. This was nothing more than two teammates meeting to volley the ball around for a bit.

Neither teen wasted too much time before leaving their house, and before either of them knew it, they were at the courts and playing a game of tennis. It was their comfort zone and what they knew. Here they could be together and partake in a level of intimacy that they couldn't off of the courts. They studied each other, read each other's minds, learned the little nuances that made them unique, and could pretend that they were in their own little world and no one else could intrude. Tezuka was not pretending to be in a new relationship with Yukimura and Fuji was not in a relationship with Sanada. They were Tezuka and Fuji, and only them.

However, as with many things, their time on the courts had to come to an end. Breathing hard, both moved off of the courts and towards the bench where they had left their bags. Neither wanted the bubble to burst, but it was time to return to reality. Of course, they didn't know that they each had the same feelings, and no one was going to divulge their own personal thoughts.

"You have gotten stronger," Tezuka commented.

Smiling brightly, Fuji took the compliment and stored it in his memory banks. The bespectacled teen did not always compliment and when he did, it was worth remembering, "It must be all of the extra playing I have been doing." And just like that shadows of others were now standing between them, but his smile never faltered.

"How did you and Sanada begin?"

"Saa, I was playing against some ball machines and working on some of my counters, he came and we started to play together. Dating seemed a natural progression," Fuji responded, but he wanted to add, "And you were gone and didn't want me."

"Seemed?"

"Hmm, yes. We get along and have fun together."

"Are you happy?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"It's just a question."

"I am, but the last I checked, who I date is really none of your concern," Fuji knew it came out harsh, and he hadn't intended that, but when his friend started questioning his relationship, he was automatically defensive.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Tezuka stated, "I meant no harm. I was just curious."

Fuji smiled bigger, his eyes hidden from the other man, "I am happy and Genichiro is a good guy. I hope you and Yukimura find happiness in your relationship as well."

Tezuka wanted to tell him that there was no relationship, just a farce, but he kept his mouth shut and bowed his head, "Ah."

Pausing momentarily, Fuji couldn't resist the urge any longer, "Ne, Tezuka, why did you come back from Germany?" He wasn't looking at his friend as he finished packing his tennis bag, but he had to know.

"There were some things going on and I needed to return to Japan," he cryptically answered. How was Tezuka supposed to say that he came back for Fuji? It wasn't possible. In fact, as soon as he got home, he was going to call Yukimura and tell him the game was over. Fuji was happy, and Tezuka wasn't going to destroy that.

"Things? That doesn't sound like a Tezuka answer," Fuji chuckled.

"Ah."

"What things?"

"Nothing. The reasons don't exist any longer."

"So does that mean that you will be returning to Germany now?"

"Not yet. I will have to wait."

"And what if these reasons come back? Will you still leave?"

Tezuka stood there studying the other teen for a few moments. Did Fuji know? Did he suspect? "If the reasons return, my plans could change, but I do not see that happening."

"What about Yukimura?"

"What about him?"

"Is that anyway to consider your boyfriend's feelings?" Fuji inquired. Feelings of hurt and anger returning to the surface, it was exactly how he felt when Tezuka had stopped his confession before the other man left for another country.

Quirking an eyebrow in question, Tezuka stated, "He will understand." It was true too, but he also noticed Fuji's reaction to his answer. What was wrong with his friend?

"I am sure he will. Well, I will be leaving first. Ja," the shorter man grabbed his bag and left without another glance at the other teen. He needed to get out of there. He needed to find center again. He needed to forget about Tezuka. He needed to do many things, but needing to do all of that felt like an impossible task at the moment.

Tezuka stood there and watched one of his closest friends walking away from him, and it felt like his heart was shattering all over again. He wasn't sure what he had said to provoke such a reaction from Fuji, but he knew the tensai was upset with him. Why was he so upset though? Tezuka couldn't fathom the answer; he wasn't even sure if Yukimura was right about Fuji being his eventually. No, it was best to end it all now.

Sighing, Tezuka grabbed his bag and started his short trek home. So many thoughts running through his mind as he analyzed everything Fuji said and did. He wondered if he would find answers to his many questions in the examination, but then chuckled to himself… when it concerned a certain blue eyed tennis player, there were always more questions than answers; and he was convinced that was how Fuji wanted it.

Putting one foot in front of the other, Fuji just walked. He wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings, he just needed to escape. Wandering around the city and the neighborhood he lived had become something that happened on a regular basis, especially when he needed to clear his head or ponder things. When Tezuka left for Germany, Fuji's roving increased plagued with thoughts of his beloved buchou. One would have thought that after Sanada entered his life, the aimless treks would have decreased or stopped, but they didn't, and with the reappearance of Tezuka, they were now a daily occurrence.

Realizing he had been walking for a while, Fuji looked around and found himself at the park where he and Yuuta used to play at regularly. He could so easily remember those days and his smile turned nostalgic. It was a time his brother looked up to him and didn't hate him. Oh their relationship had grown and gotten a lot better since camp, but it was still a bit strained; it would just take time. Time… in one scenario it was a hero bringing two brothers back together, and in the other it was the enemy robbing Fuji of a man he had loved, still loved. As he sat on the bench facing the swings, he began to wonder if there was something inherently wrong with him. Did he drive away all of the people he loved most? Yuuta, Tezuka, who else had left? Who else would leave?

A/N: The next chapter will focus on Sanada and Yukimura.